Create an environment for action

In 2008 Christina and I hit upon hard times to say the least. 

Earlier in the year we had bought our dream flat in our favourite part of town which was affordable but required both of our incomes. 

I was working for myself on a freelance basis in about 7 different locations but 80% of my income was coming from 2 jobs. 

Those two jobs disappeared over night. 

One as a product of the recession, the other due to the actions of a woman who lets just say didn't get a Christmas card from us that year. 

The moment I got the news it was like someone had pulled my stomach out through my mouth. 

The day afterwards was when I went from playing at business to becoming a professional. 

I put together a presentation to deliver nutrition talks in schools and sent a letter to 150 primary schools and followed up on the phone 2 days later. 

I then cold called 100 companies to offer 'at your desk massage' for Christmas call centre staff. 

I made enough money to cover the short fall while I came up with another plan. 

That plan was a business proposal to run rehab, personal training and small gym from an Osteopath clinic that was struggling to fulfil full time business hours without breaking the staff budget. 

It was a proposal that would see me working 71 hours a week. 

Given that I had never worked full time before and had a reputation for seemingly never working it was a big ask. 

But necessity is the mother of adaptation. 

Sometimes the best way to create a change isn't softly softy. 

Sometimes you've just got to burn your boats. 

Make a public declaration. 

Cause people to rely on you. 

Raise the steaks to where failure is out of the question. 

To say actually, the old me was fun, but here is the new me, it begins now. 

Not maybe. 

Actually building the new identity right there and then. 

Not as a declaration of the will power that will follow in order to stop the back sliding but because you actually BURNED THE BOATS there is no old you. 

Just you now, doing your thing. 

Want to adapt, create an environment that will force the adaptation. 

If you like... 

Ed Ley

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